Through their conversations, Andre came to understand that Haruki was solely interested in martial arts and had little regard for power or politics. This greatly reassured Andre. After all, no one—especially someone as ambitious and capable as Andre—would want a peer with unfathomable strength and equal standing in their empire.
But if Haruki truly had no interest in power, then granting him the title of Imperial Advisor wouldn't pose any threat.
On the contrary, with Haruki's overwhelming strength, Andre's goal of unifying the continent was practically guaranteed. No one would turn down such a sure path to dominance.
At the time, Haruki's only goal was to help establish the empire. As for saving the people from suffering and chaos, that wasn't his concern—he wasn't a saint. Years of bloodshed had hardened him. He only cared about those close to him. After all, with his endless lifespan, if he were to involve himself in every injustice in the world, he'd never find peace.
With their interests aligned, Haruki and Andre quickly reached an agreement: Haruki would aid in unifying the continent, and in return, Andre would grant him the position of Imperial Advisor, equal in status to the Emperor. Some might ask, "If Haruki is so powerful, why doesn't he just found his own empire?" First, Haruki didn't want to alter the original flow of history—especially if it meant losing one of the heroines from the original story. Second, he had no desire to waste his time or energy governing a nation.
Once Haruki joined Andre's army, morale soared. Many had witnessed the unforgettable moment when he stood atop the Ice Phoenix. In the days that followed, Haruki shattered everyone's understanding of what it meant to be powerful. From a golden vortex that tore open the sky, countless golden weapons erupted, each radiating an aura so oppressive it made people's hearts tremble. They swept across the battlefield, leaving devastation in their wake.
With a single casual swing of his blade, a wave of destruction followed—blood and death in its path. In an instant, tens of thousands of enemies were reduced to dust. The scene left everyone, friend and foe alike, utterly stunned.
Under these circumstances, the name "Demon" spread throughout enemy ranks, while among his own troops, Haruki came to be known as "the harbinger of death." Some believed the rumors, others didn't—most of the latter ended up dead by Haruki's blade.
Even with his overwhelming might, it still took Haruki nearly three years to bring the continent under control—excluding the extreme north, southwest, and southeast regions, which were harsh and of little value.
Afterward, everything unfolded smoothly. The empire was founded, Andre was crowned the first Emperor, and Haruki, having played a pivotal role in the empire's rise, was granted the promised position of Imperial Advisor, equal in standing to the Emperor. True to his word, Haruki showed no interest in politics. Most of the time, he didn't even attend court, choosing instead to train in the towering structure at the center of the Imperial Palace, which the Emperor had commissioned specifically for him.
The Emperor was more than happy with this arrangement.
It's worth noting that with Haruki around, the Emperor never had to worry about the empire's safety. As a result, no one had ever suggested creating Teigu. In the end, Haruki himself had to propose the idea. From the Emperor's perspective, creating Teigu was essential for the eternal survival of the empire, and he gladly approved the plan.
Unlike the original story, this time all the Teigu were crafted by Haruki alone. Though the endeavor still required significant manpower and resources, most of it went toward capturing Danger Beasts and gathering rare metals. Unlike in the original, there was no nationwide mobilization of craftsmen.